Shoe last



Jan. 15, H RMAN 2,777,139

SHOE LAST Filed Dec. 2, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

w fjb The present invention relates to an improved shoe last structure and, in particular, to an improvement in shoe lasts having two pivotally inter-connected sections which are designed to reduce the overall length of the last for easy applicating or removal of the partially finished and finished shoeor'slipper.

In the present status of shoe last construction, it is common to provide a shoe last having a front or toe section and a rear or heel section which are pivotally secured together by a hinged arm adapted to permit the two sections to abut forming a completely shaped shoe last, or be broken. This construction is provided ostensively for the purpose of permitting the last to have its overall length shortened from the extreme tip of the toe to the upper portion of the heel at which portion the counter of the shoe normally is positioned. These prior'art structures further provide a hinged arm adapted to permit some longitudinal movement of the two sections relative to one another so that the facing surfaces of these two sections may be separated to permit the pivoting and breaking action. These faces, moreover, are provided with a complimentary shoulder and recess located centrally and transversely of the face so that the two sections when in a closed position will interlock and hold together in a satisfactory manner. 'Because of the nature of this structure, thevapplicant has found the primary purpose of providing a two section last is actually defeated; for in these prior art structures, the lower edge of the facing surface of the heel section bears against the facing surface of the toe structure and actually move-s the heel section rearwardly in the breaking or pivoting action. This, in fact, lengthens the overall distance from toe to the upper part of the heel and makes the last in a broken position actually longer overall than the closed position. Thus, in the application 'or removal of ashoe to or from a last, there is unnecessary stretching of the shoe between the toe and the upper part of the heel section or counter with consequent damage to it. Furthermore, this construction causes a ditficulty in operation by the individual using the last; for it makes the removal and application of the shoe more difiicult. When, therefore, these lasts are used in a production assembly, the operator may easily become fatigued and the operators output will be considerably reduced.

The applicant has overcome these difficulties by providing a simple and expedient improvement to this structure which permits the breaking of the last without an overall lengthening of the shoe last in its broken position. This improvement permits the very rapid and improved utilization of the last and further does not injure the shoe in any way when it is removed from the last. These advantages are obtained in the present invention by providing a bevel edge on the facing surface at the lower edge thereof, in one of these sections. This bevel edge in combination with a beveling of the side edges of the facing surface reduces the overall length of the last in its broken position, thus, reducing the distance over which the leather or shoe material is stretched in the removing of the shoe itself from the last.

nited States Patent Patented Jan. 15, 1957 ice 'It has been found by the applicant that the ordinary prior art structure was lengthened as much as quarter to a half inch in its broken position; whereas, in the present improved structure, the overall length of the last is reduced by a like amount. These advantages and objects of the present invention together with others will be more clearly understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention in a closed position,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the invention in an open, pivoted or broken position, and

. Figure 3 is a bottom view of the invention in a closed position.

The shoe last herein described is made of any of the usual shoe last materials, such as and preferably wood. As illustrated, there is provided a forward or toe section 1 comprising a form adapted to shape the toe section, vamp and forward portion of the instepof a shoe or slipper. To the rear of this toe section 1 is a rear or heel section 2 shaped to form the counter, heel, and rear portion of the instep of the shoe or slipper for which manufacture the last is designed. These sections 1 and 2 have abutting faces 3 and 4 respectively which when in a closed position are coextensive and abutting from points 5 to 6. These sections 1 and 2 are secured together by a conventional hinging arm such as is illustrated in dotted outline at 1th. These conventional hinging arms l-tl provide means for permitting the sections 1 and 2 to be drawn somewhat closer together when open. in their closed position, however, as illustrated in Figure l, the hinge arms will not permit the sections 1 and 2 to be drawn further apart. The hinge. arm 10 as illustrated may comprise a single piece arm having a slight angle centrally located with an elongated central slot 8 through which extend the retaining pins 7 and 9, secured at their ends in sections 1 and 2 respectively.

Also provided is a conventional locking assembly having a lever arm 11 pivotally secured at its lower end to the pin 9. This lever arm 11 is tensioned forward by a spring 12 positioned Within the shoe last section 1. This lever arm 11 may pivot forward and rearwardly within limits in a vertical slot (not shown) provided in the forward section 1. The top of this lever 11 has an engaging lip 13 adapted to engage the tongue 14 secured in the rear section 2 by the pins 7 and 15. The facing surfaces 3 and 4 which extend substantially arcuately upward from the instep region of the last are provided respectively with a complimentary transverse shoulder section 16 and recess 17. These complimentary shoulder and recess sections interlock with one another when the sections are in a closed position and cooperate with the lever '11 and tongue 14 to lock the shoe lastsections together in their closed position, preventing any pivoting action whatsoever. At the lower part of the facing surface a there is provided a bevelled surface 18 transversely extending across this surface from the transverse line w to the transverse line 20. This bevelled or sloping surface 13 forms anangle with the lower part 21 of the face 3. The side edges of the face 4 are also bevelled from the point 23 to the point 24 providing a rounded surface at these side edges. Although the drawings illustrate only one side edge of the surface 4, it should be understood the opposite side is symmetrical and is, therefore, also provided with a bevelled edge.

In the operation of this last, when it is desired to remove a slipper or shoe from the last, the operator releases the tongue 14 from the lip 13 and breaks the last by bending the sections 1 and 2 relative to one another in the manner as shown in Figure 2. Because of the sloping surface 13, the section 2 may move in its open position section 1. Due to the restraining action of the shoe on the last, these sections do move towards one another in the broken or open position. the original position of the section 2 is shown in dotted outline at 25 in Figure 2. It should be noted that in this broken position, the overall length of the shoe last from the toe point 27 to the upper end of the heel 28 at which point the counter is formed is a shorter distancethan the overall length of the last in its original closed position, from the point 27 to the point 29. As the shoe form has an inner surface conforming to the last as illustrated in Figure 1 and is illustrated in Figure 2 with the toe For comparison purposes,

section outlined in 25, it is clear that the overall length of the last is shorter and will not thereby stretch the shoe positioned on it.

It should be noted, however, that the lower portion of the last is, of course, of much greater width than the upper portions and further that the sides and curvatures of the shoe and last must be considered in determining the overall dimension, over which the shoe material is stretched. Thus, the last, when in its broken position will have the wider part of the heel section (that is, the lower part of the heel section) coincide with the upper part or narrower portions of the toe sections. This causes the lower portions of the heel sections about the point 24 to project outwardly against the inner surface of the shoe or slipper while the last is being pivoted to a broken position. It has, therefore, been found that the bevelling of the, edges between the points 23 and 24 further aids in reduction of the overall length of the last in its broken position over which the shoe extends. Thus, the material of the shoe formed on the last along a line from the tip of the toe over the side of the vamp to the upper portion of the counter is not stretched as previously occurred when the last was removed from the formed shoe.

It has been found the present invention is particularly helpful in the manufacture of slip lasted shoes and slippers. Inthis construction, a partially completed shoe or slipper is applied to the last. This partially finished shoe or slipper has a finished upper and, as a rule, a stitched lower surface to which a sole is to be applied. The operator, after placing the shoe or slipper on the last, then proceeds to apply the sole and heel, if required, and then removes the shoe or slipper from the last. In the P106688 of applying the partially completed shoe or slipper to the last, great difficulty has been experienced in closing the last when the slipper is actually positioned on it. This difiiculty is due to the fact, as has been pointed out, that the slipper or shoe material must actually be stretched before the last is in its completely closed position. to operators who are required to process large numbers of these partially completed shoes or slippers.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe last of thetype which may be broken and closed formed of front and rear sections with facing surfaces sloping away from each other at the bottom portions of the facing surfaces when the last is in its closed position, and a hinge interconnecting the sections and adapted to pivot the sloping surface of one of the faces to engage the other surface when the last is in its broken position.

This, of course, results in consequent fatigue 2. A shoe last of the type described formed of front and rear sections with facing and abutting surfaces at the instep of the last, said facing surfaces sloping away from one another at the bottom section of the facing surface, and a hinge inter-connecting the front and rear sections and adapted to pivot the sloping surfaces so they abut when the last is broken.

3. A shoe last of the type described formed of front and rear sections with facing surfaces having respectively a complimentary transverse shoulder and recess, said facing surfaces sloping away from one another atthe bottom section below said shoulder and recess, hinge means holding said sections in a closed position wherein the shoulder engages the recess, and means for releasing said hinge means for collapsing the last wherein the sloping away portions of the surfaces abut each other.

4. A shoe last which may be closed and broken comprising toe and heel sections having transverse mating.

surfaces which abut one another when the last is in its closed position, and a portion of one of the surfaces'being beveled away from the mating surface and abutting the mating surface when the last is broken.

5.A shoe last comprising toe and heel sections having transverse mating surfaces, a beveled away face formed on one of the mating surfaces, link means controlling relative movement of said sections between a closed position wherein the mating surfaces abut one another and to an open position wherein the beveled away face of the said one of the surfaces engages the other mating surface.

6. A collapsible shoe last comprising heel and we sections, transverse complementary surfaces formed in the sections and abutting one another when the last is extended, a beveled face formed in the heel section below the complementary surface and spaced from the complementary surface of the toe section when the last is extended, said beveled face engaging the complementary surface of the toe section and riding up on said surface when the last is collapsed.

7. A collapsible shoe last comprising heel and toe sections, transverse complementary surfaces formed in the sections and abutting one another when the last is extended, the complementary surface of the heel section having beveled side edges, a beveled face formed in the heel section below its complementary surface and spaced from the complementary surface of the toe section when the last is extended, hinge means interconnecting said sections and causing said beveledface to engage and ride up on the complementary surface of the toe section when the last iscollapsed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,405,942 Clausing Aug. 20, 1946 2,722,026 McNeill Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,048 Great Britain of 1899 25,734 Great Britain of 1904 348,706 France Dec. 8, 1904 

